Chapter Text
Luckily, before I can act on my impulses, Ripley gets up and heads into the kitchen.
"Want a drink?" she offers.
"Just a water please," I reply. Ripley throws a bottle over from the fridge and I catch it. The freezing water feels so good against my warm skin, and I don't realise how thirsty I am until I down almost the whole thing. Ripley returns with some orange juice, but instead of sitting down, she lingers in front of me.
"What's this?" she asks, gently sliding one leg of my khaki cargo shorts up to reveal a gash on my thigh. The way her fingers brush against my skin gives me tingles, and I feel a pang of disappointment when she pulls her hand away.
"Nothing, just slipped earlier," I explain. It was the truth, but 'slip' may be an understatement. When I was climbing a ladder to reach one of the electronic systems, my hands lost their grip and I fell. However, I don't give Ripley the details, for fear of being viewed as an amateur. Being new, I feel a lot more pressure to prove myself.
"This needs to be cleaned up," Ripley states, a look of concern momentarily crossing her face, as she turns to find the first aid kit.
"I can do it," I affirm, beginning to rise. But before I could move, Ripley guides me back down by my shoulders and goes to fetch the bandages.
A few moments later, Ripley returns with the red box. Moving the bowl to one side, she perches herself on the coffee table in front of me and opens the kit.
"Why won't you let me do it," I plead.
"Because I'm the expert," Ripley winks. I roll my eyes, attempting to hide my smile.
"This is deep," she observes, starting to clean the dried blood with a wipe. Inhaling sharply, I flinch, and instinctively grab her wrist. But Ripley's hand pushes firmly down on my thigh, not allowing it to move.
"Almost done," she reassures.
Finally, she finishes cleaning the wound, and starts wrapping it up with a thin white bandage. My muscles relax as she pulls away, slowly releasing the breath I had been holding.
"Good," she murmurs. Her hand brushes down the inside of my thigh, lowering the leg of my shorts back down. As she does this, I gently sweep my fingertips over the back of her hand, feeling her warmth. Her hand pauses and I swallow hard. The tension between us lays thick in the air.
She leans in closer and fixes her eyes on mine, the proximity making my breath hitch. “Come here,” she whispers, a hint of longing in her voice.
Without another word, I obey, standing up so I'm right in front of her. Her hands find their way to my waist, pulling me down onto her lap. I sit on top of her on the table so we face each other, her lips tantalisingly close to mine. Carefully, I slide my hands up her neck and into her dark hair, grabbing it firmly as her stare flickers from my eyes to my mouth.
Not knowing how much longer I can resist, I close the distance even more, resting my forehead on hers. Her hands drop from my waist, finding my thighs once more and gripping them hard. Both of us are breathing fast now with anticipation, our chests touching as they rise. I move one hand back down to her neck, playing with the silver chain that hangs delicately by her throat, feeling the moisture building on her hot skin.
Finally, Ripley tilts her head slightly and closes the gap, her lips pressing against mine. I breathe in, the sudden intensity sending a shiver down my spine. Her hands find their way back to my waist, pulling me closer as the kiss deepens.
I respond eagerly, my hands gliding smoothly down her back, feeling the firm muscle beneath her shirt. Ripley bites my lip softly, eliciting a soft moan from me. Then slowly, she pulls away, looking back at my face.
"We probably shouldn't tell the others," she speaks quietly, trailing off.
"Yeah," I agree. As much as I knew it was for the best, I couldn't help but feel disappointed that we might not get to continue.
Sensing my hurt, Ripley spoke softly, "But as long as they're in the other room," she begins suggestively, a smirk appearing on her face. Lightly, she brushes a strand of hair from my face, carries me over to the sofa and sets me down. She kneels on the floor in front of me and my fingers slide from her neck to her hair, tangling in her thick locks. Resting her hands on my thighs, she rises slowly, her lips finding mine again. As she leans into me, the kiss is more deliberate this time. It's as if she is trying to memorise the feel of me against her.
The sound of footsteps from the corridor causes us to break apart suddenly. Ripley stands up swiftly, the mask of calm taking over her face once more. "Get some rest," she says loudly enough for anyone nearby to hear. My lips curve up as she glances back at me before stepping out, her expression softening for a brief moment. The door shuts behind her as I lean back into the sofa, my heart still racing. I'm not sure if I'll be able to after that.